Engineering topics

Avis, Lee M.

Publications and source records attributed to Avis, Lee M..

6 records

NASA NTRS1994

NOAA-9 Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) scanner offsets determination

The Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) instruments are designed to measure the components of the radiative exchange between the Sun, Earth and space. ERBE is comprised of three spacecraft, each carrying a nearly identical set of radiometers: a three-channel narrow-field-of-view scanner, a two-channel wide-field-of-view (limb-to-limb) non-scanning radiometer, a two-channel medium field-of view (1000 km) non-scanning radiometer, and a solar monitor. Ground testing showed the scanners to be susceptible to self-generated and externally generated electromagnetic noise. This paper describes the pre-launch corrective measures taken and the post-launch corrections to the NOAA-9 scanner data. The NOAA-9 scanner has met the mission objectives in accuracy and precision, in part because of the pre-launch reductions of and post-launch data corrections for the electromagnetic noise.

Avis, Lee M.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Limb-darkening models from along-track operation of the ERBE scanning radiometer

During January and August 1985, the scanning radiometers of the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment(ERBE) aboard the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS) and the NOAA-9 satellite were operated in along-track scanning modes. Along-track scanning permits the study of many measurement problems. It provides the data for developing a limb-darkening model for a single site over a short period of time and also permits the indentification of the scene from data taken at smaller nadir angles. The earth-emitted radiation measured by the scanners has been analyzed to produce limb-darkening models for a variety of scene types. Limb-darkening models relate the radiance in any given direction to the radiant flux. The scene types were computed using measurements within 10 deg of zenith. The models have values near zenith of 1.02-1.09. The typical zenith values of the model are 1.06 for both day and night for ERBS, and for NOAA-9, 1.06 for day and 1.05 for night. Mean models are formed for the ERBS and NOAA-9 results and are found to differ less than 1%, the ERBS results being the higher. The models vary about 1% with latitude near zenith and agree with earlier models that were used to analyze ERBE data typically to 2%.

Smith, G. Louis↗

NASA NTRS1992

Characterizations of the mirror attenuator mosaic - Solar diffuser plate

The mirror attenuator mosaic (MAM), a solar diffuser plate, was used for the flight calibration of the broadband shortwave (0.2-5-microns) and total (0.2 to greater than 200-microns) Earth Radiation Budget Experiment scanning thermistor bolometer radiometers. The MAM solar-reflecting surface consisted of a tightly packed array of vacuum-deposited aluminum, concave spherical mirrors, while its solar-absorbing surface consisted of black chrome. The effective reflectance of the MAM was constant to within +/- 2 percent after almost 2 years in orbit, a marked improvement over earlier solar diffusers.

Lee, Robert B., III↗

NASA NTRS1990

Limb-darkening functions as derived from along-track operation of the ERBE scanning radiometers for August 1985

During August 1985, the scanning radiometers of the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment aboard the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS) and the NOAA-9 satellite were operated in along-track scanning modes. These data were analyzed to produce limb darkening functions for Earth-emitted radiation, which relates the radiance in any given direction to the radiant exitence. Limb darkening functions are presented and shown as figures for day and night for each spacecraft. The scene types were computed using measurements within 10 deg of zenith. The models have values near zenith of 1.02 to 1.09, with values near 1.06 being typical. The typical value of the model is 1.06 for both day and night for ERBS, and for NOAA-9, the typical value at zenith is 1.06 for day and 1.05 for night. Mean models are formed for the ERBS and for the NOAA-9 results and are found to differ less than 1 percent, the ERBS results being the higher. The models vary about 1 percent with latitude near zenith.

Smith, G. Louis↗

NASA NTRS1990

Validation of Earth Radiation Budget Experiment scanning radiometer data inversion procedures

Validation techniques were implemented in the inversion of scanner radiometer data to assess the accuracy of the top of atmosphere radiant fluxes. An evaluation of SW radiant flux standard deviations for the same scene type shows that they contribute about 6.0 W/sq m for viewing zenith angles less than 55 deg and can reach values of up to 17.6 W/sq m for larger zenith angles in the backward scanning position. Three-channel intercomparison results, presented as color graphic displays and histograms, effectively validate the radiance measurements and the spectral factors. Along-track data were used to validate limb-darkening models and showed good agreement with current ERBE models. These validation techniques were found to be very effective in assessing the quality of the radiant fluxes generated by the ERBE inversion algorithm.

Manalo, Natividad D.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Characterizations of the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) scanning radiometers

NASA's Earth Radiation Budget Experiment employs the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite and the NOAA 9 and 10 spacecraft to obtain absolute measurements of incoming solar radiation, shortwave earth-reflected solar radiation, and longwave earth-emitted radiation, using both scanning and nonscanning radiometers. Each of the three remote-sensing spacecraft carry narrow FOV scanning radiometers whose detection sensors are thermistor bolometers. Attention is presently given to the calibration models and methods employed in characterizing the scanning radiometers' output signals; the design features of the scanners and flight calibration systems are presented.

Lee, Robert B., III↗